House For Sale: General Lafayette's Hide-a-way

Today, with her mother gone and her father living elsewhere, Jody, with her brother’s agreement, has finally, reluctantly, decided to sell. Her asking price: $320,000. She says she’ll move into a condo in nearby Newport, but will definitely miss this old place, in which she and her family have been living for more than 40 years. “I’ll miss this neighborhood, too,” she says wistfully. “Years ago, you know, it was a busy ferry landing, with trolleys going to the wharves, and even a hotel, but now it’s a quiet, close-knit community that’s very special.”

Later that morning, after saying our goodbyes to Jody and Majesty (her kitty), we walked around the property’s spacious lawns (surrounded by old stone walls and gardens), checked out the two-car garage, and then meandered down to the water and the Mount Hope Bridge, under which, at low tide, one can still spot the remains of the ferry wharves.

A right of way to the water will pass to the next owner, who’ll be able to swim there, launch a canoe or kayak, even moor a boat. Not only that, but, according to a 1640 law still on the books, any property owner has the legal right to drive his or her cattle down to the water’s edge. And, hey, that’s no legend. It’s the law.

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